Coated griddle bottom

ABSTRACT

A griddle is disclosed. The griddle comprises a coating on a bottom surface to improve heat transfer performance of the griddle.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a griddle mounted on a range or a cooktop. More specifically, the present invention relates to a griddle with a treated bottom surface that faces the heat source and is configured to improve heat transfer between the heat source and the griddle.

It is generally known to provide for a griddle as a component to a cooking apparatus such as a cook top or a range (which combines a cook top with an oven in a single appliance). A griddle provides a heated surface for cooking or heating food whereas a burner provides a grate that supports cookware (e.g., pots and pans) above a heat source. Such known griddles typically comprise a plate coupled to a base above an infrared or radiant heat source. A top surface is used to heat or cook food and a bottom surface faces the heat source. The bottom surface (and the top surface) typically are a machined, cast, or forged surface that are shiny or glossy metallic. However, such known griddles have several disadvantages, including reflecting radiant heat energy (rather than absorbing it), and temperature measurements by thermostats that do not accurately reflect the temperature of the cooking surface due to less than desired heat transfer performance.

It is also generally known to provide a coating to cookware and bakeware. Such known coating applications typically involve applying a black coating to a surface of the cookware. However, such cookware may not provide the desired cooking performance or capacity of a griddle, wears over usage, and varies in performance.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a coated griddle bottom. It would also be advantageous to provide a coating that improves heat transfer between the heat source and the griddle as well as enhances the efficiency and uniformity of heat energy being transferred. It would be desirable to provide for a coated griddle bottom having one or more of these or other advantageous features. To provide an inexpensive, reliable, and widely adaptable coated griddle bottom that avoids the above-referenced and other problems would represent a significant advance in the art.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an appliance for cooking food. The appliance comprises a base; a heat source coupled to the base; a griddle coupled to the base and disposed above the heat source. The griddle comprises a first surface to receive food being heated and a second surface facing the heat source. A coating is coupled to the second surface and is configured to improve heat transfer efficiency from the heat source to the griddle.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for cooking food. The apparatus comprises a base; an infrared heat source coupled to the base; a griddle coupled to the base and disposed proximate the infrared heat source. The griddle comprises a first surface for heating food and a second surface with a first heat absorbing capacity. A coating is coupled to the second surface and has a second heat absorbing capacity that is greater than the first heat absorbing capacity of the second surface of the griddle.

The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing an apparatus for cooking food. The method comprises providing a base, a radiant heat source, a griddle having a cooking surface and a bottom surface; coupling the radiant heat source to the base; applying a coating to the bottom surface that has heat absorbing properties greater than heat absorbing properties of the bottom surface; and coupling the griddle to the base above the radiant heat source.

The present invention further relates to various features and combinations of features shown and described in the disclosed embodiments. Other ways in which the objects and features of the disclosed embodiments are accomplished will be described in the following specification or will become apparent to those skilled in the art after they have read this specification. Such other ways are deemed to fall within the scope of the disclosed embodiments if they fall within the scope of the claims which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an appliance in the form of a range according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is the range of FIG. 1 with a griddle exploded off and inverted.

FIG. 3 is a section view of a griddle according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the griddle of FIG. 3 taken along line 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exemplary cooking apparatus in the form of a range 10. Range 10 (as well as other cooking apparatuses such as cook tops or the like) include a base 12, a control interface 14 (shown as knobs), burners 16, and a griddle assembly 18. Base 12 includes a structural frame or support. In the range 10 application, base 12 also includes an oven 20. Control interface 14 controls the operation of burners 16, oven 20 (if provided) and/or griddle assembly 18. Burners 16 include a heat source 22 (e.g., gas, electric, etc.) and a grate 24 that supports cookware above heat source 22.

Referring to FIG. 2, griddle assembly 18 is configured to improve heat transfer from the heat source to the food on the griddle assembly as well as enhance the efficiency and uniformity of heat energy. Griddle assembly includes a heat source 26 and a griddle 28. Griddle assembly 18 provides an alternative method to burners 16 and oven 20 for cooking food without the use of cookware such as pots and pans.

According to an exemplary embodiment, heat source 26 provides heat energy by radiant heat transfer. A thermostat 27 (mounted on a thermostat holder) is disposed below griddle 28 and is used for controlling the temperature of griddle 28. According to a preferred embodiment, heat source 26 provides infrared heat energy directed to griddle 28. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, heat source 26 includes a ceramic tile infrared burner. Alternatively, the heat source may be other resistive-type sources (e.g., paper, metal foam, Calrod, etc.) or any of a variety of radiant heat sources (e.g., gas flame, induction, etc.). Absorption of the heat energy by griddle 28 depends on several factors, including distance between griddle 28 and heat source 26, texture of griddle 28, material of griddle 28, and color of the griddle surface facing the heat source.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, griddle 28 includes a plate 30, a vent 32, and a receptacle 34. Plate 30 is a generally planar member with a first or top surface 36 and a second or bottom surface 38. Top surface 36 receives (e.g., supports) food that is being cooked (heated). Bottom surface 38 is on an opposite side as top surface 36 and faces heat source 26. According to a preferred embodiment, the material of plate 30 is ½″ cold rolled steel plate. Alternatively, the plate may be any of a variety of materials.

Vent 32 is coupled along a rear end of plate 30 and is configured to allow passage of gases (e.g., air, fumes, exhaust, smoke, etc.) between the space under griddle 28 and the space surrounding range 10. According to a preferred embodiment, vent 32 is a shaped member (e.g., u-shaped channel) coupled to plate end with a plurality of slots 40. Receptacle 34 (e.g., cup, trough, tray, etc.) is configured to receive and contain grease or other food particles that drain or are scraped from top surface 36 of plate 30. According to a preferred embodiment, receptacle 34 is a shaped member (e.g., U-shaped channel) coupled to a front end of plate 30.

An exterior or outer coating 42 (e.g., layer, material, etc.) is coupled to bottom surface 38 of plate 30 to increase the efficiency and uniformity of heat transfer between heat source 26 and griddle 28 (and therefore to the food being heated). Because coating 42 improves the heat transfer through plate 30, the temperature measured by thermostat 27 more accurately reflects the temperature of surface 36. According to an exemplary embodiment, coating 42 has a greater heat absorbing capacity than (the uncoated) bottom surface 38 of plate 30. Conventional griddle bottom surfaces a base metallic and reflective/glossy surface. According to a preferred embodiment, coating 42 is a color darker than bottom surface 38 and is capable of withstanding high temperatures over a long period of time. Coating 42 is preferably a mat gray or black color. Preferably, coating is a paint or other coating that is applied (e.g., brushed, rollered, sprayed, powder coated, etc.) to second surface that chemically and/or mechanically bonds (e.g., adheres) material to the second surface. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, coating 42 is an Industrial Marine and Coating system commercially available as KEM® HI-TEMP COATINGS No. 850 SERIES from the Sherwin-Williams Company. According to alternative embodiments, the coating may be any of a variety of materials that is coupled to the bottom surface of the plate that increases heat transfer efficiency and uniformity, and is coupled by any of a variety of methods.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the coated griddle bottom as shown in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” shall mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. Such joining may also relate to mechanical, fluid, or electrical relationship between the two components. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and/or omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention as expressed in the appended claims. 

1. An appliance for cooking food comprising: a base; a heat source coupled to the base; a griddle coupled to the base and disposed above the heat source, the griddle comprising a first surface to receive food being heated and a second surface facing the heat source; a coating coupled to the second surface and configured to improve heat transfer efficiency from the heat source to the griddle.
 2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a high radiation heat absorbing capacity relative to second surface of the griddle.
 3. The appliance of claim 2 wherein the coating comprises a darker color than the second surface of the griddle.
 4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the coating is gray.
 5. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the coating is black.
 6. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the coating is a paint applied to the second surface.
 7. The appliance of claim 4 wherein the heat source provides infrared heat energy to the second surface of the griddle.
 8. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising an oven disposed below the griddle.
 9. An apparatus for cooking food, comprising: a base; an infrared heat source coupled to the base; a griddle coupled to the base and disposed proximate the infrared heat source, the griddle comprising a first surface for heating food and a second surface with a first heat absorbing capacity; a coating coupled to the second surface and having a second heat absorbing capacity that is greater than the first heat absorbing capacity of the second surface of the griddle.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the coating has a darker color relative to the second surface.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the coating is gray or black.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the coating provides a mat surface.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the coating provides significantly greater heat absorbing properties relative to the second surface.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus is a range or a cook top.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the infrared heat source comprises a resistive element.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the resistive element is a ceramic tile infrared burner.
 17. A method for manufacturing an apparatus for cooking food, the method comprising: providing a base, a radiant heat source, a griddle having a cooking surface and a bottom surface; coupling the radiant heat source to the base; applying a coating to the bottom surface that has heat absorbing properties greater than heat absorbing properties of the bottom surface; and coupling the griddle to the base above the radiant heat source.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of applying the coating comprises one of brushing, spraying, rolling, or powder coating a material on the second surface.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of applying the coating comprises bonding a material to the second surface has a darker color relative to the second surface.
 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the step to applying the coating comprises bonding the coating to the second surface. 